Sorin Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Claims

Sorin Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler systems are used to heat and cool patients during heart surgery and other cardiac procedures. They were originally manufactured in Germany by Sorin Group Deutschland GmbH, which has now merged with an English-based company, LivaNova.

Before surgeons can operate on a heart, they must first stop it beating. The main way to do this is to divert the patient’s blood away from the heart with a heart-lung machine and then pump a cool solution through the heart. The cold solution also slows the heart’s metabolism to prevent cell death while it’s isolated from the blood. This is known as cardioplegia.

There are certain procedures that involve chilling the patient into a controlled hypothermic state during surgery and warming them back up again afterwards. The Sorin Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler is used along with other devices. This keeps patients, their blood, and the cardioplegic solution all at their desired temperatures throughout surgery.

The device contains tanks of temperature-controlled water that’s pumped through closed circuits into warming/cooling blankets or external heat exchangers. At no point does the water come into direct contact with the patient.

Several patients have been infected with a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium chimaera after undergoing surgery with a Sorin Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler in use. A European study has since found a link between the infections, the heater-cooler devices, and the manufacturer’s factory in Germany.

M. chimaera is commonly found in soil and water. It shouldn’t be present in sterile environments where medical equipment is manufactured. However, tests done by the manufacturer found that both its production line and water supply had been contaminated by the bacteria.

Several more recent studies have also linked the Stockert device to other dangerous infections, including Mycobacterium Abscessus and Legionella.

Every claim for compensation is unique, so we can’t give you an estimate of how much you may be entitled to until we know more about your case.

The amount of compensation you are awarded will be based on:

• Your pain and suffering
• Your prognosis and future care needs
• Any modifications you need making to your home
• Any loss of earnings you have had through being unable to work
• Expenses you have incurred, such as medical and travel expenses for hospital appointments.

While we will always work to settle your Sorin Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler claim as swiftly as possible, the time it takes will depend on several factors, like whether or not the responsible party admits blame.

If they do, we can settle your claim and you will be awarded compensation. If they don’t, or they disagree with how much compensation we think you should get, we will initiate court proceedings. Our solicitors are passionate about achieving true justice and have successfully taken cases to the highest courts in Europe.

It’s worth noting that you have three years from the date of your operation to make a claim. If you didn’t find out until later that your illness was caused by negligence, the three-year time limit starts on the date you learned this. The three-year limit doesn’t apply to children under 18 and people who lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions.